Nevin backs Chelsea's Lampard against boo-boys

Nevin told Chelsea's official website: "It may well be that some of that reaction was aimed at the manager for taking off Michael Owen, but even so it is rather galling that a player who endlessly turns up for his country when fit is so ill-thought of by some.

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"It may be that it is partly down to the antipathy some fans have towards Chelsea and not just Frank, but isn't it a sad British trait that success regularly engenders this type of jealous reaction?

"Having never had to put up with that sort of abuse from the stands I am not sure how I would have reacted, but I would hope that I would have reacted with the same professionalism and dignity as Frank has.

"If fans are still so negative about Chelsea players when they play for the English national side they had better be careful, with almost half the team plying their trade at the Bridge.

The former Scotland international compared Lampard's current situation with that of Beckham, who was vilified after being sent off in the 1998 World Cup.

"I am not one of those people who thinks Beckham is or ever was one of the world's great players, but I was particularly impressed with him when he came back from being the 'most hated player in England' to once again become a highly respected and much-loved member of the team. I have no doubt Frank will do the same in time."